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Sunday, 26 February 2017

Our Normandy Campaign Kicks Off!!!

I’m delighted to report that Dave and I have kicked off our Normandy campaign!! We’re using a mix of scenarios from the Battleground Europe Bolt Action sourcebook, adaptations of scenarios from the CoC supplement Kampfgruppe von Luck, and just some of our own ideas.

Ideally I’d like to bring others (I’m thinking Steve, Mike, George, Rob, Dave, etc) in to the campaign so as to have a series of ‘simultaneous’ battles with linked outcomes. My ideas are still somewhat ephemeral at this stage so we’ll see how it goes. Some campaign notes are shown in typewriter font below.

List RestrictionsForces should be selected based on their approximate historical formations; suitable support options are noted below. Depending upon the scenario, further restrictions may apply.

The Paras are very lightly equipped, so no AFVs.Infantry sections plus MMG, Medic, Car/Jeep, Light Mortar, Medium Mortar, PIAT, Flamethrower, Sniper, AT Gun*.*later in the campaign as the guns arrived in the second lift on the evening of D-Day.

The Germans are in a slightly better position in terms of a variety of equipment but access to AFVs should be limited to the later battles in the campaign.Infantry sections plus MMG, Medic, Car/Kubelwagen, Truck, SdKfz 251, Light Mortar, Medium Mortar, Flamethrower, Sniper, Self-propelled gun**, Tank/Stug****later scenarios, as the German bring up reserves and mobilise more decisively.

(If we bring in other allied forces such as regular British or US, etc then I’ll sort out further notes)

Scattered Drop (N)Due to the dispersed nature of the Para forces they must hold all but N unit(s) in reserve and all deployment morale checks *are* affected by the -1 modifier. Reserve units become available from turn 2 onwards. Any units failing two consecutive morale checks for deployment are considered lost and will not appear in that battle.Additionally, the ‘free’ Forward Artillery Observer must roll a D6 before checking for deployment; 1-3 Lost in the countryside or perhaps the radio was damaged in the drop, may not participate in the battle, 4-6 Available as usual.Game One – The Paras Arrive!Scattered groups of Paras are trying to form up on their objectives whilst the surprised Germans attempt to hold their positions.Play Scenario One, Airborne Night Fight, from the Battleground Europe supplement.Forces are 600pts per side.The Scattered Drop (2) rules apply for the Paras.The Germans must include at least 2 squads of inexperienced troops (for example, to represent some of the less motivated troops incorporated from conquered territories).

Anyway, Dave and I started with a fairly modest sized game; the Airborne Night Fight from Battleground Europe. Set in the early hours of June 6 1944, this scenario pits an ad-hoc force of newly dropped and lightly equipped British Paras against the German occupiers of a Normandy village.

We assume that the Germans have been alerted to some degree by nearby fighting, so will not all be fast asleep in their beds, but in the absence of orders from senior officers, the German commander is holding his position. The Paras are seeking to drive off the Germans, capture vital supplies and then re-group as more men arrive from the widely scattered drops.

British ForcesIn order to represent a small, ad-hoc force I came up with this 600pt list. The only officer has organised his 26 men in to 4 under-strength sections, after all it is likely that they would have come from different platoons and companies which had become mixed in the chaos of the drop.2nd Lieutenant & NCOPara Section #1, NCO & 6 men (incl Bren team)Para Section #2, NCO & 6 men (incl 4 with SMGs)Para Section #3, NCO & 6 men (rifles only)Para Section #4, NCO & 4 men (incl Bren team)MedicLight Mortar Team

Right, on to the action! The scenario has three objectives on the table that the Paras must capture, 1 is a draw, 2 or more is a win. So, perhaps a little optimistically, I decided to go for all three ... with my four sections! Below we have a section moving through the orchard next to the stone barn. However, the Germans gave them a warm welcome and they quickly accumulated pins whilst trading shots.

The Night Fighting rules really added an a extra dimension to the game! Definitely enhanced the tension and drama; highly recommended. When troops move they make themselves easier to spot and if the open fire then the muzzle flashes really highlight their position!

Dave had an early success with my free FO. A great spotting roll meant he could just reach them behind a hedge with one of his MG42s. So there'd be no artillery support for this game. Ironically the observer had just failed his spotting roll to rain shells on the MG42 team in the farmhouse.

Below we have an SMG armed section close in on the objective in front of the cafe. Dave had (very sensibly) put a lot of his men in the buildings which made them very tricky targets. So I decided to try to flush them out with bayonets.

Along comes Dave's light mortar (okay these were pretty rare by Summer '44, but shhh!). He promptly makes his night spotting roll to see the Paras and then lobs a shell over the cafe... Dave neatly rolled a natural 6 and three Paras including the NCO were blown to pieces! He also inflicted maximum pins too!

I brought up my Lieutenant and NCO to help steady the men as they recovered from the mortar blast - especially as an objective was so close. But, next turn the remaining SMGs FUBAR-ed, and with enemy nearby, they spun around and hosed their CO with bullets! Miraculously he wasn't hurt but the shooting clearly gave away the SMGs position. Who says that troops always act as you want in BA?

Back over by the barn the Paras and Heer continue to trade shots in the dark. The German sniper in the barn (i.e. at point blank range!) continues to hit absolutely nothing.

The third objective was between the two farmhouses. I had a section of rifle armed Paras approaching from one side, with another smaller section on the other. Between was a squad of Regular Heer. But I just couldn't make the spotting roll to see them!

The last few SMG armed Paras were shot up by the inexperienced German troops (no, really!) and yet another plum shot from the light mortar. The FUBAR had left them in the open with muzzle flashes, so they were easy targets. So the CO and his mate set about taking the nearby objective. To do that they'd need to clear out the MG42 in the upstairs of the cafe....

In the first edition rules, SMGs gave 2 shots in combat, but I forgot that it's different in 2nd edition. I was expecting my two veteran chaps to have 4 attacks compared to 3 German regulars... But Dave set me right. We rolled off and the Paras won the day - but only just - at least the nearby objective was theirs!

At the barn the Paras had despatched the Heer but at a heavy price. Just the NCO and one Para remained. They could hear booted feet approaching in the darkness.

Next turn Dave got the early dice so advanced the squad along the road. We agreed that only the front two chaps with rifles could see the Paras next to the barn. The made their spotting roll and Dave rolled two dice ... two sixes ... to more rolls to wound ... another two sixes!! Gah!?

We played one more turn before Dave had to go. I had one objective (by the cafe), Dave had one objective (by the barn) and the other (between the farmhouses) was contested by both sides. That was enough for a draw. But after the fire-fight in the cafe the Para officer had remained upstairs, so Dave (playing the role of dastardly Hun to the full) moved his light mortar team in to the ground floor to contest the objective. A win by the narrowest of margins for Dave with the last move of the game!

What a great game with a splendid opponent! Thanks matey :o)

Lessons Learned
This is simple. With just four sections I should have concentrated my efforts on just two objectives, even claiming just one would have been a draw. My troops were spread too thin. Although Dave's amazing dice skills did rather help the Axis cause! I did try to boost my forces by getting my youngest, Katie, to help with the dice rolling - I should have done that from the start! Indeed, Dave suggested next time that not only do I get her to roll the dice, she should also do the thinking! :-D